OKLAHOMA CITY — Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, all public school students in Oklahoma will receive free, healthy meals, thanks to a new statewide mandate by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE).
State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced the initiative last week, emphasizing that parents should not bear what he called a “third tax” in the form of school meal costs.
“No parent should be expected to pay what is essentially a third tax in the form of school meals,” said state education officials.
Prioritizing Nutrition Over Administration
The new order shifts school budget priorities to student nutrition, ensuring all children have access to nutritious meals during the school day. The plan will be enforced by evaluating school district budgets and guiding them to eliminate meal costs for families.
To support this, OSDE is enforcing compliance through three existing provisions in Oklahoma law:
-
Title 70 O.S. § 18-101(8): Requires a joint state-local financial plan ensuring full educational opportunities for all children.
-
Title 70 O.S. § 5-128: Requires school districts to submit financial and statistical reports by June 30 each year.
-
Title 70 O.S. § 5-128.1: Mandates itemized expenditure budgets be submitted by October 1.
School districts must immediately submit proposed budgets estimating the cost of providing no-cost meals. OSDE will review and suggest cost-cutting changes for districts unable to meet the mandate, and may withhold funding or accreditation from noncompliant districts.
Banning Unhealthy Food Options
To ensure the quality of school meals, OSDE will ban:
-
Seed oils
-
Artificial food dyes
-
Ultra-processed foods
-
Pesticide-laden products
-
Junk food vending machines
Bipartisan Praise for the Initiative
The initiative received rare bipartisan support. Rep. Annie Menz (D-Norman), a longtime advocate for expanding free school lunches, said she was “stunned and thrilled.”
“Hungry kids can’t learn, and every child deserves access to healthy nutritious meals,” Menz said. “I hope Mr. Walters will be more collaborative with the legislature to determine lasting budget solutions.”
Rep. John Waldron (D-Tulsa) noted that schools like Tulsa Public Schools already offer free lunches and praised the program’s academic benefits:
“School lunch programs are proven to boost learning, improve test scores and promote healthy bodies.”
Looking Ahead
While the program’s long-term funding plan is still being developed, OSDE is committed to ensuring no Oklahoma student goes hungry at school, and is prepared to enforce the mandate aggressively to make that vision a reality.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
Leave a Reply